On December 13th, 2018 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., the Senior Executives Association and Senior Executives Association Professional Development League will host the 2018 Presidential Rank Awards Leadership Summit, a full-day event offering exceptional educational, mentoring, and networking opportunities for current and aspiring government leaders.

The Summit will feature educational tracks that address the three most pressing areas of concern for Federal career senior leaders, including: Future of Work, Future of Workforce, Future of Workplace.

The conference will also recognize the extraordinary public service of senior career professionals by honoring the 2018 Distinguished and Meritorious recipients of the Presidential Rank Awards. The Presidential Rank Award represents the top award a civilian federal employee can receive, awarded by the President of the United States to the top 1% (Distinguished) and 5% (Meritorious) of federal employees, as nominated by their respective agencies. In 2017, more than 300 Senior Executives were among the event's 500 attendees.

Making the DEAN's List -- Calling All PRA Winners!

Every organization, large or small, needs to learn from its past successes and failures. What better way to learn than from its most celebrated leaders? Federal departments and agencies can always learn from our Presidential Rank Award winners.

According to OPM’s website, “Recipients of this prestigious award are strong leaders, professionals, and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength, integrity, industry, and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service.”

Over eight hundred members of the Senior Executives Association are rank award winners -- if you are reading this, there’s a good chance you are one! SEA is taking the lead in making our expertise available across the Federal government, in part through its Distinguished Executives Advisory Network or DEAN's List.

My Distinguished Rank Award in 1997 exposed me to the amazing achievements of our year’s class; my only regret was that there was no opportunity to meet up later, and share stories with each other. From the brief descriptions of their contributions at our State Department dinner, I knew I was with many potential colleagues and friends.

Soon SEA will be sending a survey to our list of rank award winners. We want to identify people by the skills and experience that they are willing to share with others now engaged in solving America’s problems. Some of us are retired, and some now live far away from Washington. With today’s technology, the barriers to our contributing to excellence in public service are falling fast. We can also mentor other senior leaders, and we’ll find ways to socialize, too.

Be on the lookout for the survey and please sign up. America needs us!

- Bob KniselyDEAN'S ListSenior Executives Association

NOTE: More information on DEAN's List and a survey are forthcoming. In the meantime, if you have any questions, as always, feel free to e-mail SEA Executive Director Jason Briefel (briefel@seniorexecs.org) or Bob Knisely (bobknisely@gmail.com).

The Senior Executives Association (SEA) is the professional association for career members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and equivalent positions. SEA also represents aspiring leaders (GS-12 to GS-15s) who are part of SEA’s leadership pipeline program.

SEA is not only the voice of career leaders through a strong advocacy program, it empowers senior leaders across government by providing the tools, resources and connections they need to succeed in the 21st Century.

SEA members receive access to research and news, strategic networks, and connections to the good practices across government that they may not receive on the job.

Above all else, SEA is guided by dedication to public service and to helping career Federal leaders better serve the American people. Through membership, SEA members are part of the movement to transform government for the 21st Century and to empower senior leaders to drive change.

What you get

Through strategic connections, insight into cutting-edge practices and resources, career advancement tools, and thought leadership, SEA helps its members build a “Leadership Profession” within the federal government to ensure that the experience of senior career leaders is used in new ways to promote a stronger and more effective government.

SEA membership options are available to career SES and equivalent positions, retired SES and aspiring leaders (GS-12 through GS-15). Click below for information about eligibility and membership categories.